June 2022

We are halfway through the year of 2022. Can you believe that? I often write about reflection and using that to realize your impact, growth, goals, and more, and it still is true. We often accomplish a lot more than we give ourselves credit for.

June is the start of summer and outdoor fun for many. Please check out the information here regarding water safety.

If you plan on canning any produce this year, please come have your pressure canner dial gage tested. You can bring that by the office and I will make a recommendation before you begin canning. *It is important to have your gage tested yearly.

EHC has been at the Arkansas Extension Homemakers Council Meeting this week! I will be sure to share more about what they are doing next month after the conference and Summer Council Meeting.

Have a great month and remember to reach out if you have any questions or topics you wish I would cover.-Tristin

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FACS in Crawford County
Summer Safety
Upcoming Events
EHC Update

Healthy Recipe and more!

FACS in Crawford County

The school year is wrapping up, so are my school programs.

In May I presented the Get Real, financial literacy program to Cedarville FACS classes.

I also presented a ServSafe class and exam this month.

June is full of 4-H day camps and events with the Boys & Girls Club.

Fun on the Farm Field Trip for Kindergarten Students learning about strawberries.

Students learned about dairy and got to milk the cow.

Students in FACS and Foods classes at Mulberry High School participated in the Teen Cuisine program.

Summer Safety

Now that school is out and many families are headed outdoors, but there are key safety measures to consider. These precautionary measures should be taken so kids and all family members are safe from sun, insects, and injuries. Here are some great tips:

Master Water Safety- Swimming the pool and playing in a sprinkler are popular activities. Make sure children are ALWAYS supervised in or around water.
Beat the Heat and Sun- Overheating and sunstroke can occur to both children and adults. If someone is showing signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke, move them to cool location and seek medical help.
Keep Ticks and Mosquitos at Bay- Use an effective inspect repellent. Check yourself and children for ticks after being outside.
Prevent Injuries- Make sure appropriate protective gear is being uses, such as bike helmets. Make sure playground equipment is safe.

Content source: Kathleen Riggs, Utah State University Extension family and consumer sciences professor

Explore the Outdoors

Now is a great time to get outside and explore. One way you can encourage your children or grandchildren to get outside and play is by creating a sensory bin. A sensory bin inspires imaginative play, motor skill development and more.

All you need to create a sensory bin is a bin and a few items from around the house and yard.

Here are a couple of examples:

Bin
Spoon
Cup
Water to put in the bin
Leaves
Grass
Dandelions
Bowl
Strainer

Allow the children to explore and play with the items in the bin. You can always add more items or change out items from play time to play time. Here is a link to more sensory bin examples-

How to Grill Safely

As we begin summer, I am sure that more and more families will be bringing out the grill. It is important that we follow food safety guidelines to prevent food borne illness.

Clean- Wash your hands with soap before, and after handling raw meat, poultry, and seafood. Wash your work surfaces before and after cooking as well.

Don't Cross-Contaminate- Throw away marinades and sauces that have touched raw meat juices. Put cooked food on a clean plate.

Cook- Use a food thermometer to ensure that meat is cooked hot enough to kill harmful germs.

Chill- Keep meat, poultry, and seafood refrigerated until ready to grill.

Refrigerate- Divide leftovers into small portions and put them in covered containers. Put them into the fridge or freezer within two hours.

Pressure Canner Gauge Testing

Before you start canning, it is important to have your dial gage checked for accuracy. You can bring your lid and gage to the Crawford County Extension office and we will test it and make recommendations to you.

Extension Homemakers Club Update

We will have the Summer Council Meeting on June 14th. The theme is Flags! Please bring a dish that complements beef hot dogs.

Crawford County EHC Upcoming Events

June 3rd- 10:00 a.m. -- Leader Training at the Extension Office
June 14th- 4:30 p.m. -- Summer Council at the Extension Office
June 24th-25th --EHC Yard Sale at the Extension Office

Squash Salsa

12 Servings

300 Calories per serving

Ingredients

1 can black beans (rinsed)
6 tomatoes, seeded and diced (medium)
1/2 green pepper, seeded and diced
1 medium red onion (minced)
1 summer squash, medium (peeled, seeds removed, diced)
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon Adobo seasoning (combination or garlic, coriander, salt, and cumin)
Lemon or lime juice (2 Tablespoons, optional)
4 tablespoons mozzarella cheese, part skim
Fresh cilantro or dried parsley (optional)

Directions

Combine all ingredients except cheese. Let sit for 30 minutes.
Spoon over tortilla chips, cooked rice, or noodles.
Top with grated, part-skim mozzarella cheese. Serve hot or cold!

Source: Farm Fresh Summertime Recipes

Connecticut Food Policy Council

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.